Mich. Comp. Laws » Michigan Compiled Laws / Chapter 257 / Act 300 of 1949
Michigan Compiled Laws

Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.626 (2026)

Reckless driving on highway, frozen public lake, or parking place; violation as misdemeanor; penalty.

✓ current as of July 2026
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MICHIGAN VEHICLE CODE


Act 300 of 1949


257.626 Reckless driving on highway, frozen public lake, or parking place; violation as misdemeanor; penalty.

Sec. 626.

    (1) A person who violates this section is guilty of reckless driving punishable as provided in this section.

    (2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person who operates a vehicle upon a highway or a frozen public lake, stream, or pond or other place open to the general public, including, but not limited to, an area designated for the parking of motor vehicles, in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 93 days or a fine of not more than $500.00, or both.

    (3) Beginning October 31, 2010, a person who operates a vehicle in violation of subsection (2) and by the operation of that vehicle causes serious impairment of a body function to another person is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 5 years or a fine of not less than $1,000.00 or more than $5,000.00, or both. The judgment of sentence may impose the sanction permitted under section 625n. If the vehicle is not ordered forfeited under section 625n, the court shall order vehicle immobilization under section 904d in the judgment of sentence.

    (4) Beginning October 31, 2010, a person who operates a vehicle in violation of subsection (2) and by the operation of that vehicle causes the death of another person is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 15 years or a fine of not less than $2,500.00 or more than $10,000.00, or both. The judgment of sentence may impose the sanction permitted under section 625n. If the vehicle is not ordered forfeited under section 625n, the court shall order vehicle immobilization under section 904d in the judgment of sentence.

    (5) In a prosecution under subsection (4), the jury shall not be instructed regarding the crime of moving violation causing death.

History: 1949, Act 300, Eff. Sept. 23, 1949 ;-- Am. 1953, Act 3, Eff. Oct. 2, 1953 ;-- Am. 1957, Act 178, Eff. Sept. 27, 1957 ;-- Am. 1965, Act 262, Eff. Mar. 31, 1966 ;-- Am. 2004, Act 331, Eff. Nov. 1, 2004 ;-- Am. 2008, Act 463, Eff. Oct. 31, 2010 ;-- Am. 2010, Act 155, Eff. Jan. 1, 2011

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 155 cases (63 in the last 5 years), 1951–2026 · leading case: People v. Jones, 860 N.W.2d 112 (Mich. 2014).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
People v. Jones, 860 N.W.2d 112 (Mich. 2014). · cites it 113× “626, provides in relevant part as follows: (2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person who operates a vehicle upon a highway or a frozen public lake, stream, or pond or other place open to the general public, including, but not limited to, an area designated for…”
People v. Russell, 825 N.W.2d 623 (Mich. Ct. App. 2012). · cites it 4× “84, and reckless driving causing serious impairment of a body function, MCL 257.626. Defendant was sentenced to 19 to 120 months’ imprisonment for his assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder conviction and 5 to 60 months’ imprisonment for his reckless…”
Miller v. Sanilac Cnty., 606 F.3d 240 (6th Cir. 2010). · cites it 4× “Because Deputy Wagester was aware of the icy road conditions — which could certainly have caused Miller to inadvertently drive through the stop sign — there is a genuine issue of fact as to whether Wagester had probable cause to arrest Miller for reckless driving.”
People of Michigan v. Dalton Duane Carll, 915 N.W.2d 387 (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 3× “1 MCL 257.626 provides that a person who drives recklessly and causes death or serious injury is guilty of a felony: (1) A person who violates this section is guilty of reckless driving punishable as provided in this section.”
People v. Jones, 839 N.W.2d 51 (Mich. Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 22× “” MCL 257.626(2). The Legislature could have defined a moving violation causing death in such a way that it included an element not present in reckless driving causing death, with the result that the two would be cognate offenses.”
Ronald Mitchell v. Justin Schlabach, 864 F.3d 416 (6th Cir. 2017). · cites it 2× “In doing so, Mitchell knowingly placed himself, Schlabach, and the public at risk of severe injury or death.”
People v. Smith, 793 N.W.2d 666 (Mich. 2010). · cites it 2× “3 MCL 257.626. 4 MCL 750.122(7)(b). 3 justice was a “separately cognizable consideration[] within the sentencing guidelines .”
People v. Barbarich, 807 N.W.2d 56 (Mich. Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 2× “While it is true that the statement could be consistent with legal behavior, it was also enough to create an inference that defendant had been driving erratically in contravention of MCL 257.626 (reckless driving, a misdemeanor), MCL 257.”
Freed v. Salas, 780 N.W.2d 844 (Mich. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 2× “627 (driver shall operate at a careful and prudent speed, keep a proper lookout and shall not operate at a speed that will not allow for a stop within the *862 assured clear distance ahead) and MCL 257.”
Dawson v. Sec'y of State, 739 N.W.2d 339 (Mich. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 2× “( ii ) Section 626 [of the Michigan Vehicle Code, MCL 257.626]. ( iii ) Section 904 [of the Michigan Vehicle Code, MCL 257.”
People v. Marshall, 255 N.W.2d 351 (Mich. Ct. App. 1977). · cites it 4× “"(b) Every person convicted of reckless driving shall be punished by imprisonment in the county or municipal jail for a period of not more than 90 days or by a fine of not more than $100.”
Butterworth Hosp. v. Farm Bureau Ins., 570 N.W.2d 304 (Mich. Ct. App. 1997). · cites it 2× “§ 257.626; M.S.A. § 9.2326 or driving feloniously under M.”
Show all 155 citing cases →
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.626(1) — 6 cases
People of Michigan v. Gina Marie Ransanici (Mich. Ct. App. 2018).
People of Michigan v. Charles Edward Horn (Mich. Ct. App. 2021).
People of Michigan v. Frederick Michael Fredell (Mich. Ct. App. 2022).
People of Michigan v. Eric Jay Anderson (Mich. Ct. App. 2025).
People of Michigan v. Melvin Ford (Mich. Ct. App. 2025).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.626(2) — 33 cases
People v. Russell, 825 N.W.2d 623 (Mich. Ct. App. 2012). “84, and reckless driving causing serious impairment of a body function, MCL 257.626. Defendant was sentenced to 19 to 120 months’ imprisonment for his assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder conviction and 5 to 60 months’ imprisonment for his reckless…”
People v. Barbarich, 807 N.W.2d 56 (Mich. Ct. App. 2011). “While it is true that the statement could be consistent with legal behavior, it was also enough to create an inference that defendant had been driving erratically in contravention of MCL 257.626 (reckless driving, a misdemeanor), MCL 257.”
People v. Jones, 839 N.W.2d 51 (Mich. Ct. App. 2013). “” MCL 257.626(2). The Legislature could have defined a moving violation causing death in such a way that it included an element not present in reckless driving causing death, with the result that the two would be cognate offenses.”
People of Michigan v. Timothy John Otto (Mich. Ct. App. 2023).
People of Michigan v. Alpha Oumar Diallo (Mich. Ct. App. 2019).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.626(3) — 40 cases
People v. Russell, 825 N.W.2d 623 (Mich. Ct. App. 2012). “84, and reckless driving causing serious impairment of a body function, MCL 257.626. Defendant was sentenced to 19 to 120 months’ imprisonment for his assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder conviction and 5 to 60 months’ imprisonment for his reckless…”
People of Michigan v. Dalton Duane Carll, 915 N.W.2d 387 (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). “1 MCL 257.626 provides that a person who drives recklessly and causes death or serious injury is guilty of a felony: (1) A person who violates this section is guilty of reckless driving punishable as provided in this section.”
People of Michigan v. Samba Alasan Camara (Mich. Ct. App. 2023).
People of Michigan v. Anteisha Deona Dorty (Mich. Ct. App. 2026).
People of Michigan v. Alpha Oumar Diallo (Mich. Ct. App. 2019).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.626(4) — 70 cases
People v. Jones, 860 N.W.2d 112 (Mich. 2014). “626, provides in relevant part as follows: (2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person who operates a vehicle upon a highway or a frozen public lake, stream, or pond or other place open to the general public, including, but not limited to, an area designated for…”
People of Michigan v. Dalton Duane Carll, 915 N.W.2d 387 (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). “1 MCL 257.626 provides that a person who drives recklessly and causes death or serious injury is guilty of a felony: (1) A person who violates this section is guilty of reckless driving punishable as provided in this section.”
People v. Jones, 839 N.W.2d 51 (Mich. Ct. App. 2013). “” MCL 257.626(2). The Legislature could have defined a moving violation causing death in such a way that it included an element not present in reckless driving causing death, with the result that the two would be cognate offenses.”
People of Michigan v. Timothy John Otto (Mich. Ct. App. 2023).
164098_78_01.Pdf (Mich. 2024).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.626(5) — 8 cases
People v. Jones, 860 N.W.2d 112 (Mich. 2014). “626, provides in relevant part as follows: (2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person who operates a vehicle upon a highway or a frozen public lake, stream, or pond or other place open to the general public, including, but not limited to, an area designated for…”
People v. Jones, 839 N.W.2d 51 (Mich. Ct. App. 2013). “” MCL 257.626(2). The Legislature could have defined a moving violation causing death in such a way that it included an element not present in reckless driving causing death, with the result that the two would be cognate offenses.”
People of Michigan v. Timothy John Otto (Mich. Ct. App. 2023).
People of Michigan v. Alpha Oumar Diallo (Mich. Ct. App. 2019).
People of Michigan v. Joseph Jay Ford (Mich. Ct. App. 2015).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.626(b) — 3 cases
Cox v. LaLonde, 300 N.W.2d 564 (Mich. Ct. App. 1980).
Anthony Robinson v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. (Mich. Ct. App. 2024).
Jonathan Schirmer v. James Robert Williams (Mich. Ct. App. 2023).
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